thinking about buying a MAC...
 

I admit it, I am a windows bigot, been one every since, well for a long time. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I should experience the MAC side.

I travel every week, so I am looking for something that is very light, but has the power to do what I need, evern though I don't know what it is yet.

Will still have to carry my corporate machine (windows), so don't need a replacement for that.

any suggestions? i'm kind of in uncharted waters here... :)

thanks!

i hope others will correct me

but i've not seen a really "light" Mac/Apple notebook/laptop..

i'd define a light notebook to be no more than 1.5 kg..

I'm one who carries both windows and mac laptops on my travels, and find that my 12" PowerBook suits my needs well.

What do you need the Mac to do for you?

Well, Apple's website lists the following weights for their current line of notebooks.

12" iBook - 4.9 lbs
14.1" iBook - 5.9 lbs
12" Powerbook - 4.6 lbs
15" Powerbook - 5.6 lbs
17" Powerbook - 6.9 lbs

If you are looking for just light, try the Dell Lattitude X1 at 2.5 lbs. What do you want to do on the laptop? Once we know that we can try and help you find the lightest possible system that will let you do what you want to do on the laptop.

already have a windows machine, actually two (dell x300 and 700m). i want to try out a MAC.

hmm, i don't know yet and that's my problem. I don't know what they WILL do, outside of what a standard windows machine does. :)

guess i will have to do some research before I make a decision. I still don't know what I don't know about the Mac.

you'll find it quite different to the wintel notebooks you've been using but not worse!! =)

as its already been pointed out, def. not the lightest portable computer to be lugging around if weight is an issue to you

Well, a Mac can do almost everything a Windows system can (without going into the gaming side, but I'm sure your laptop won't be for gaming), so I don't think you have to be too worried about it not being able to function for you. If you've been a PC user all your life though, it might take a little time to get used to the new OS.

As for the weight issue, I've used the 12" iBook before and found the weight pretty bearable for a portable machine.

Maybe you can go into a Apple store if you have one in your area, and just give some of systems a try. A good way to see if it's right for you is probably to get some hands-on experience with it.

I would strongly recommend you wait. Some say new upgraded Apple laptops are comming as soon as tomorrow. In any case upgrades are long overdue. Since I have a Verizon Broadband KPC650 PC card I settled for a Sony T250 laptop, since Apple has no laptop offerrings 12" or under with a PC slot. Otherwise I would have gotten a Powerbook/iBook. But after a year the Sony proved to be extremely mobile. I carry it everywhere and get on the net anywhere in the Miami /Ft Lauderdale area without routers or base stations. I also have a 17" Powerbook, but I leave it home for video editing and other heavy stuff. The T250 is my mobile fun machine, very quiet and small.

http://homepage.mac.com/bhardy3/PhotoAlbum38.html

While I can't really help you in the laptop department, I will vouch for the OSX operating system. I switched from Windows to OSX back in January when the Mac Mini desktop system came out (that's a pretty cheap option if you want to try a mac and don't want to invest in the laptop). I've found that it does all my internet/office stuff just fine and I have more time to use actual productive apps, because I don't have to spend time fighting with the OS or getting rid of viruses/spyware. I definately feel the Mac has made me more productive and has also made using the computer more enjoyable.

If you just want to play with the OS, just find a copy of OS X for Intel and install it on a spare partition of your Intel notebook. I have it running just fine. Though once you've made a couple of passes and seen how everything works, you'll likely realize that it doesn't really do anything new or different and go back to Windows.

All things being equal, it's true as previously posted that you can find lighter Wintel systems. The reason is Business 101: since they all run the same software, they have to compete on something else. Since most Macs are sold for their software (OS, apps, whatever) Apple doesn't have to push the envelope as much in the hardware department, as long as they're in the ballpark.

That said, as a Mac user with friends of all religions (I even know a few folks who run Linux) I think Macs are easier overall, more secure for reasons discussed elsewhere, better integrated, do most kinds of networking better, etc., etc., but not enough of any of these to offset the fact that you already know Windows. The missionary in me would love to see another convert, but I don't see a compelling reason here - and believe me I'd find one if I could!

If you want to try it and see if you like it, I'd get a one- or two-year-old model on eBay. They haven't changed much in that time (I got my PB in May 2004 and have been watching) and there are rumors that big changes are coming soon. This is probably a bad time to spring for a new one.

Apple will be offering a very light refresh of their PowerBook line, most likely this week.

Slightly faster G4 CPU, DD2 RAM, maybe PCI-X, higher-resolution LCDs, and some better connectivity.

Apple seems to be waiting until the new Cedar Hill Pentium M units are ready before they do a serious refresh of the PowerBook line, so that will be 6-12 months away.

I just bought a 12" iBook. I think it's a good deal for a portable Apple Macintosh.

I think I am safe regarding the annoucments tomorrow. I think they will focus only on Pro products. Anyway, I have a G4 iMac and really wanted a portable Mac. Sure, I have a Thinkpad from work and I use that for work, but for everything else, I really started to prefer the Mac.

Yeah, I think the 12" iBook is a tad heavy and a tad thick for it's size. But it's not too bad.

Here are some areas where I think the Mac/Apple stands out (in no particular order):

Editing digital video
Creating DVDs
Managing your photo library
Text/Audio/Video Chat/Conferencing
Managing your music library
Creating music
Creating presentations
Connecting to/managing/detecting wireless networks
Sharing music (legally)
Automation
Handling documents (organizing them, finding them, printing to PDF, etc)
Integration with other devices (iPod, iSight, third party peripherals, playing music to the stereo with the Airport Express)
Security (-Zero- known viruses in circulation attacking OS X)
Seamless, native access to a full Unix environment, including command line functions and pretty much all native Unix apps (emacs, VI, etc)
Ranked #1 in support 6 years consecutively by Consumer Reports, each year the lead has grown
Ranked #1 in quality by Consumer Reports 6 years consecutively, with fewer repairs needed as reported by owners than any other brand
Most drivers are already built-in
Easy, automatic updates to the OS and all Apple software
More built-in, default features: WiFi, Bluetooth, gigabit ethernet, DVI support, USB2, FireWire, SVideo, Motion-sensing technology in laptops to protect the hard drives, automatic illuminated keyboards, auto-dimming display when the room gets dark
Dependable, instant wake from sleep
X11
XCode
cool stuff like Dashboard, the easy on the eyes UI, exposé, Bonjour (aka rendezvous, aka zero conf)
Consistent UI (i.e. what works one way in one app works the same way in another app, including keyboard shortcuts, menu structures, window behavior, etc)

Media reports that Apple may have some new models out Thursday. There may be some surprising new features to differentiate it from other alternatives. Pricing may also be lower.

But rather than just look at apple.com, why not try to include a visit or two to an Apple Store. Check your mail, try a few different sizes of notebook without being hassled. After a visit or two you might know what you want.
Then get it.

I love the 12" models for their light weight and features (and are often better value than most of the mini PC laptops. Maybe some FTers travelling the same routes/lounges as you may also have some experience to share.

There are quite a lot of dealers in most cities as well as the apple stores. Check out pbcentral.com, which tracks the retail offerings in the world of apple gear. I think some retailers are including MS Office with the notebooks for no charge. Or an iPod :) . Let FT know what you get :D

Don't forget to mention that you're on their payroll as well. ;)

Has anyone ever seen a free machine at an Apple store - the one in Regent Street is always chock full of Gypos and foriegn students using the place as a free internet cafe. Cant beleive Apple dont take a harder line with people who clearly have no intention of spending their cash... :mad:

I would think as long as they are there with their own Powerbook/iBook/Apple product then there should be no objections to them being there. But it is very crowded at the Mall Apple store where I live. Hey, at least the register lines are not crowded.

I tried to make the (partial) switch. As nice as the mac sounds on paper it simply isn't easy to migrate from windows to it. I could not get used to some of the stuff, and sold my mac after just 2 weeks...

I actually think that's a brilliant move from Apple. A lot of people are intrigued by the idea of having a "cooler" laptop but are afraid that MAC OS is going to be completely different. When they let people freely use their machines, with the applications most of them are going to be using, they can see that it is in fact a very friendly OS. For this to work, you cannot select who can use it and who can't. People that are there only to check their mail or surf the web (myself included several times) are part of the cost to Apple. And who knows, maybe they will convert also.

Welp as expected Apple upped the resolution on the 17" Powerbook - now 1680x1050. This is the resolution my HP 17" has and, if they are using the same "BrightView" LCD panel from LG/Phillips, they are very sweet.

The 15" was bumped to a little above the specs of the old 17" - 1440x960. No resolution boost for the 12".

Both can drive the 30" Cinema Display.

All units now come with SuperDrives.

Specifics at http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1333

the powermacs are also now dual core processors...yummy

After years of being fanatically anti-Apple, I suddenly developed a burning desire to get one. Like in that desperate "Hmm... how many hours until I can leave work and go to the Apple store before meeting missydarlin for dinner" sort of way.

OTOH, I feel sort of guilty about blowing a big sum on another computer when my Dell laptop is less than a year old and works perfectly well. Maybe I'll go play with them and see what I think. :)

Apple made a website for those of us considering abandoning our beloved Windows PCs:

http://www.apple.com/switch/

Sell the Dell.

:)

Oh, so the problem lies between the chair and the keyboard? :p :D

At the bigger Apple stores, Apple actually has a section set up with a bunch of iMacs just for internet usage be the public. For example, the Michigan Ave store in Chicago has about maybe 15 - 20 iMacs upstairs just for this purpose.

The argument for aesthetics is compelling enough to leave the PC world forever! ^ :D

Here's an interesting story about Apple in the Times magazine.

NOTE: link may only work for this week as the Times Canada updates weekly with new stories (but using the same URL!)

The link took me to a story about oil consumption/conservation.

Sorry, it looks like the Times Canada has updated the site with this week's edition of stories. I have updated my post above.

I mostly use Mac (own 5 of them) but for work we have to use PC. It is funny to see people come up and ask (as both are sitting next to eachother) and ask which we prefer. Mac of course. I have plenty of people and friends that have made the switch to Mac that said they would NEVER own a mac, well after a few weeks/months they now say they will NEVER go back to PC. when I did own a PC i would feel that i needed to get a new one every few months, i have had my 12'' PB for over a year and have no need for a new one. They just make far superior products for a far more reasonable price. Give it time if/when you go MAC and you will never want to go back.

I am going to make the switch. My 5 yo Dell is dying (sad...I had it since college :( ) and I am going to get a 12inch iBook. Any idea if there are any sales that go on? I can get it in Portland and not pay sales tax but other than that are there any ways to save a little dough?

Do you want to check them out in the store first, or have you already done that? If the latter, there are several options. Amazon runs $100 mail-in rebates, looks like there's one still going on. The online Apple Store http://store.apple.com/ carries factory certified refurbished units (with same one-year warranty as a new unit, and also qualifies for the AppleCare extended warranty if you like) at good discounts, though there you'll definitely pay tax unless you can have it shipped to Oregon. PowerMax http://www.powermax.com/ is an indie authorized reseller in Oregon. They don't have a real showroom, though, so unless you're actually nearby, it doesn't really change much. You have to call and place your order before you can pick it up. Similar indies are Small Dog http://www.smalldog.com/ in Vermont and ExperCom http://www.expercom.com/ in Utah. Small Dog and PowerMax refurbish their own used units if you're really looking to go cheap. ExperCom is typically land of RAM upgrades at cheap prices and free shipping.

When I buy brand new Macs, ExperCom is usually the place I look at first these days. At any given time, one of these three may have factory refurbished units as well, but more and more Apple keeps these for themselves. I've bought various refurbs over the years with decent results, but that all depends on your comfort level. In my experience with several dozen Macs, the refurbs don't fail any more often than the brand new units. For the iBook in particular, the refurb at Apple is only $100 less than the net price of the new unit from Amazon. If Apple charges tax and Amazon doesn't, then the difference is almost nothing. So the refurbished route may be pointless.

If you want hand-holding for the switch, go to the Apple Store. They're pretty good at that stuff. But, you don't have to buy your computer there to get help from them there. You can always buy it elsewhere then go in and talk to the "genius" folks when you have a question or problem.

Thank you CrazyOne.
One question though: Why would Amazon offer a rebate and Apple not?


I don't think I need the hand holding...my dad has an Apple and loves it...geeks sometimes scare me. :)

Resellers are free to offer their own promotions. Apple also offers its own. You'll find a few promos that are nearly always ongoing available through Apple, the main one being a $100 rebate when one of certain specified printers is purchased with a computer. There are also sometimes discounts on .Mac when purchased with a computer, and sometimes you can get software discounted as well.

If you have a student, faculty or staff member of an educational institution in your family you are eligible for the education discount. This may take a little bit more off the price of the refurb offers. (Keep in mind though that refurbs don't always qualify for the other discounts/rebates at the Apple Store web site... check the rebate terms and conditions carefully.)

Additionally, several employers have discount programs with Apple, as do federal government employees.

The Apple Store does charge sales tax based on ship-to state. Shipping is free for orders over $50.

Check with your local Apple Retail Stores. I believe the Genius Bar will transfer all files from an old Windows computer to a newly purchased Mac at no charge for Switchers. I don't know if you have to buy the machine there or if you can bring in a recent purchase.

Mac Connection, 800 800-2222, has a $50 rebate on the 12" iBook now, plus free shipping. They charge sales tax only on shipments to Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee, so you'd be OK that way too. I've dealt with them a lot over the years and have always been satisfied.

Thanks so much. I am looking at the website right now :)

I just broke down and bought it.

Thanks again...

Congratulations, and may you enjoy it for a long time!!!

But please break the suspense. Which Web site?